The Year In Pictures 2009

Happy New Year!

Just for the Joy of it

I had a comment from Sharon this morning and popped over to her blog to check it out. I LOVE THIS feature that she does called "Just for the Joy of it". You simply share things that warm your heart.

Today I am thanful for another simple day of play with my kids. Sometimes it is hard to take the time out to do just that, play. I have a nice little morning routine that allows me to get things done and for that I am grateful but some days I chuck it out the window and just focus on these fleeting years that I have at home with these sweet little boys who still think I am the most beautiful, wonderful, funny woman in. the. world. You gotta love that.

Today we enjoyed each and every one of the 60 degrees that we were given and took a walk. Then we played in the leaves, ate lunch and played some games. God giving me the opportunity to be a Mom and the opportunity for Jared and I to be the center of Alex and Eli's world is what warms my heart today.

Eli didn't want to come in at all. I put Alex in the house and went back out to get him and this is what I found. I am pretty sure he was convinced that he was invisible. :)

They LOVED this game that I found on "No Time For Flashcards". You set them up like this and show them each a block (separately so it also helps with taking turns if you have multiples) and have them identify either the letter, number or picture and then if they get it right they throw it in the basket. If they miss they just get to keep trying, of course. If they didn't know the particular letter I just told them what it was and had them repeat it. This was a huge hit. (Ignore the laundry baskets. I have a date with them at nap time).

Thanksgiving Thursday

Today, first and foremost, I am thankful for a day with no "have to's". I try and keep things simple around here for Jared, the boys and me but sometimes life is still busy. We are coming up on a very busy weekend so today above all I am thankful that we didn't have anything we HAD TO do.

We went to the library this morning and it was empty so the boys got lots of extra time to do puzzles, play with puppets and read through a few books. Thank you!

We came home and they were able to play outside for a long time because we are having beautiful weather. Thank you! In Michigan you don't take a single one of these last days before our long winter hits for granted.

They are now napping peacefully! THANK YOU LORD!

We rode bikes and

played with sticks! (They seriously played with sticks for an hour, such BOYS.)

Here are the books that we got at the Library. They were really cute. Fall leaves Fall is a great book to use before a nature walk b/c it describes the different shapes of the leaves and tells you which ones are which. I know I learned a thing or two. We really like this book. We also really enjoyed "Bear Snores On". I love this author we also have "Bear Feels Sick" and "Animal Strike at the Zoo" all by Karma Wilson. I highly recommend her books for little ones. I think reading to Alex and Eli is as much for me as it is them. I love it! My latest project that I found the idea for HERE, is to organize their books by seasons and group them together. I just have to go the office supply store and get the boxes.

I also wanted to thank everyone who came by and commented yesterday. I appreciate all of your encouraging words. I am trying to get back to each of you and look forward to visiting your blogs. I am so overwhelmed by all of the comments. Thanks again! If you want to play along with Thanksgiving Thursday click on the adorable button below! :)

Thanksgiving Thursday

Don't let these sweet faces fool ya!

Wow, I have to say being a mom to twin two year olds (almost 2 1/2) is currently KICKING MY BUTT (I just typed BUSS on accident, I refuse to read into the whole butt/bus thing) ANYWAYS, the boys are basically running the roost lately. I am at a complete loss. Jared and I are being consistent in our discipline and it still feels like it is not working. We are admittedly discouraged. I have moments of triumph with them that make me feel like a good Mama and then the tables quickly turn. We enjoy hugs, kisses and "I love you's" followed by walking into their room and finding that they have completely emptied their dresser drawers (while we have company). We laugh at the hysterical things that they say followed by checking on them during "nap"and finding that they are on top of the dresser playing. Their naps are "successful" if it only take me an hour to calm them down and then they sleep for an hour. It is exhausting, draining, depleting. I think that describes how I feel this instant.

I've always thought that if you do everything you can to parent well that your children would behave well however I now know that kids are kids. I have two year olds not mini-adults. They are going to act like two year olds. We will get through this stage and then we will be on to another challenge but as this is my scrapbook to my children I wanted to note that this is HARD. I know that doesn't surprise any parents out there but when I am a grandparent I want to look back at this and remember that it wasn't all a breeze. So that is it. No words of wisdom just reality staring out at me and snickering ;)

Ha, I bet you NEVER thought that I would get to the thankful part. Fooled ya! In all this I am thankful for my boys. I am thankful that they are physically able to climb on dressers and yell "MINE" at one another. I am thankful that they have curious and creative little minds. I am thankful for my husband who is at the forefront of this battle with me, leading us every step of the way. Thank you Lord! I know that it will only strengthen us as we grow as a couple and as parents. BUT most of all today I am thankful that "This Too Shall Pass". Can I get an AMEN?!?! (It will pass, won't it???) :)

I wrote this post yesterday and last night I had a reality check and told Jared that I wish I could rewind to the first 6 months with twin preemies and spend a few days there. It could then remind me how difficult THAT was and I would be more than happy to come back and endure the challenge of this age of 2. The other upside would be to squeeze those sweet babies! I forgot how humongous and sweet Alex's cheeks were.

You can join in on Thanksgiving Thursday here.

Thanksgiving Thursday

My husband and children's ability to make me laugh is something that I feel grateful for today.

This week these are the Eli-isms that have made me laugh out loud, or for those of you that need a modern day translation "LOL" :)

1. Eli declaring "oh my goodness!"

2. Eli telling ME this morning "I'm workin' on it!" This is what I say to him CONSTANTLY while he is demanding milk and I am quickly trying to fill his sippy.

3. Eli asking "Where's Suzy? Where's Sid?" (from Sid the Science Kid) IN HIS SLEEP! If that doesn't make you feel like a stellar parent, what does? They also sing "PBS kids". Oy! In my defense Eli's been sick which equals more TV time.

As far as Jared and Alex I am blanking right now on what they have said or done recently to make me laugh. More often than not with Alex it is an expression, as he is KING of facial expressions and eye rolls (NO IDEA where he gets this from).

As Proverbs 17:22 states "A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone tired." The Message


They help me keep a cheerful disposition, most of the time ;) Thanks guys!

This week I am thankful for a lot as usual but the first thing that comes to mind is SUMMER and all that is has to offer! It has hit Michigan in a big way this week and though it comes with a lot of activities we have had a lot of fun thus far. So in no particular order, I am thankful for:

1. A plastic pool that I get to soak my feet in while the boys play until they are exhausted. (Which leads me to #2).
2. Tired children that take long naps and sleep late.
3. Aunt Mimi's pool, piano and Summer library program all of which entertained the boys on Monday.
4. Summer B-day parties that allow you to socialize outside while the kids run around. The noise level is so much more bearable when you are not cooped up inside with 10 kids under 8 years old. The boys were thankful for the cupcakes! :)
   
   
   


5. My flowers bloomed. I wait eagerly for the lilies to bloom and it finally happened!
   
   
   


6. I'm thankful that the boys are physically able to try new things. I am less thankful that Alex likes to try and climb the slide with NO HANDS!!! (He looks like he is saying "What's the problem Mom?")
   
   

   

7. I am thankful that Eli is still timid enough to go down the slide as seen in the following picture because it means one less to worry about.

   

8. Enjoying summer thunderstorms with Daddy. I'm thankful that Daddy had this idea (so were the boys).

(I LOVE this pic of Alex. Soak it all in, baby boy, soak it all in!)

9. Last but not least, I am thankful that tonight we have NOTHING to do but be together as a family!

Thanksgiving Thursday

I thought I would join in on Thanksgiving Thursday over at "What a Trip". Since it is my first time doing this I will keep it simple as that is my motto nowadays.

My boys: Jared, Alex and Eli! Their love amazes me all.the.time! Unfortunately, I know that not everyone has this kind of joy and I am grateful for such a full life with these 3.